Bathtub seat unit



Oct. 12, 1954 H. B. sAuNDERs BATHTUB SEAT UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1952 INVENTOR .Harry Baird `922cm.c1/'ws B' Juli mi.

ATTORNEYS 4 Oct. l2, 1954 H. B. sAuNDERs 2,591,404

Y BATHTUB SEAT UNIT Filed Dc. 23, 191:52 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR I Hazy Baird Saunders MTM ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT ,OFFICE A'rn'rU SEAT UNIT Ham Baird Saunders, Woodland, Calif.

Application December 23, 1952, Serial No. 327,565V

(Cl. 15s-36.5)

. `6 Claims. 1

This invention is directed to, and it is a major l` object'to provide, a bathtub seat unit of novel structure; the unit being especially designedbut not limited-for use to support invalid or aged persons in a bathtub for the purpose of bathing.

Another important objectY of the present invennen is to provide a bathtub seat unit which is arrangedforvertical adjustment of the seat bef tween a raised position adjacent the top of the tub to aid a person to gain access to the seat, or to leave the same; and a lowered position in the f-v tub for bathing.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a bathtub seat unit which-includes a power f device, in novel combination in the structure, to

raiseand to control lowering of--the seat; such power device being la hydraulic jack'having operating and control membersr positioned for ready manipulation by the person occupying the seat. A further object of the invention is to provide a bathtub seat unit which includes a novel supporting structure for the assembly of the hydraulic jack and seat carried thereby; such supporting structure embodying a base which rests on the bottom of the bathtub, and anti-displacement hangers engaging over the outer side of said bathtub.

fpair, or storage of said jack and seat assembly.

Also, with the supporting structure, and the jack and seat assembly initially separate, installation ofthe unit in a bathtub is facilitated.

It is also an object of theinvention to provide a bathtub seat unit which is designed for ease and economy Aof manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable bathtub seat unit, and one which will beexceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

' These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the bathtub seat `unit as in use in a bathtub; the latter being in section. -f i 1; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the unit.

- Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2. v j IReferring now more particularly to the charac- 2 ters of reference on the drawings, the improved bathtub seat unit comprises a rectangular base plate I provided on the `bottom with a resilient non-slip pad 2, preferably of rubber or the like. A pair of transversely spaced hangers, each indicated'at 3, upstand from one side of the base lagainst the same.

vThe vertical adjustment between the upper and lower straps is accomplished by providing rows of holes (not shown) in such straps adapted to match in different positions of adjustment, with the holes in the upper strap 1i being tapped for 'threading engagement with the screws 6.

At the upper end thereof each hanger 3 inc ludes a hook 8 adapted to engage over the rim 9 -on' the adjacent side of a bathtub lil; the vertical adjustment of the length of the hangers, as previously describedfbeing for the purpose of setting the'hooks 8 in proper engagement with the rim 9 when the base plate I and its pad 2 rest on the bottom I'l of the tub.

Each of the upper straps 4 and the related hook 8 have a resilient anti-displacement lining I2 for tub engagement.A

With this v structural arrangement the base plate I can bedis'posed on the'bottom I I of the bathtub I0 in a stabilized position.

A hydraulic jack unit I 3 is disposed substantially Vcentrally on the base plate I, and includes a rectangular supporting plate I, being normally maintained in position by the following:

rIVhe base plate I is formed, on top thereof, with a pair of transversely spaced, laterally inwardly opening channels I5 disposed in parallelism; the f spacingfofthechanne'ls I5 Vbeing such that the supporting plate I4 may slide thereinto from the front'of the device. Ther supporting plate I 4 is prevented `from sliding rearwardly out of the channels I5 by a back-stop I6 which upstands A from the baseplate I.

'The supporting plate I4 is normally prevented from sliding forwardly out of the channels I5 by a Vcross slide I'I carried in a guide I8 atop said base advanced inwardly itsinner end projects beyond the adjacent channel I5 and laps the adjacent corner of the supporting plate I4, as at 20, thus effectively blocking said supporting plate against accidental forward sliding from said channels I5.

The hydraulic jack unit I3, which is of substantially the same structure as hydraulic jacks used for automotive service, includes a telescopic post 2 I. A pump 22;.when worked byfa pump actuating handle 23 to one side of the vertical' axis'of the jack unit I3, causes the telescopic post 2I to rise or extend in the manner shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The pump actuatingfhandleZS includes a knob on its outer end, as at 24, for ease may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1, A bathtub -seat unit comprising a supporting structureiadapted to rest on the lbottom'of a bathtub, said structure including an upstarding hanger having a hook for engagement over the rim of "the bathtub on one side, a jack mounted on and of grasping. Additionally,the hydraulic'jack unit I3 includes a pressure release'valven25tworkedrby' a turnable rod 26 having a iinger tab 2T on its upper end; the rod 26 extending ad-jacentt-he handle 23. By simplyturning the rod 26, the

.pressure release: valve" .mayfbe'opened whereby to permitfthe telescopic post 2 It to slowly contract 01'. lessen in its vertical extent.

FAt its upper end theV telescopicpostiZ I is tted '.fwithLa conforming aseat.28, andat' the'rear ofv suchseat a spring armZSeXtends upwardly on a i. gradualcurve; such `armtbeing xed fat 'its lower end` tothe upper end of the post 2|. 4'At its `upper endl the 'springarm 29Y supports vka. back rest `39 ',invertically adjustable relation. .Such adjustment'ofathe back rest13is accomplished by pro- 'ividing the same'with a guide yoke3l through :which thespringv arm 29 is slidable, but the sliding is normally prevented by a set screw y32 threaded through theyoke3 I, and having aV rubfber head133 on its outer' end.

After'thedescribedibathtub seat unit isdis- "posed-in a bathtub I0 in the manner described, lthe hydraulic jackrunit I3 is workedby the' pump actuating handle 23- to cause the telescopicy post .2l to extend, raisingthe seatf3 toapproximately the horizontal plane of the rim 9 of the bathtub.

Withy the seat in suchraised position, -an invalid, oran-aged person,l can gain access to such seat-without diiiicultyor danger of falling.

.'Thereafter, the rod 26 is rotated in a direction to cause release of the valve 25,-whereupon the telescopic post 2l gradually retracts, lowering the .fseatfZ-and-the occupant into the'bathtub I 0.

In the lowered position-of theseat'29, bathingrcan be accomplished with relative ease,yet.with. adequate support ofthe person occupying said seat 28.

When the'bathing -is completed, the hydraulic jack unit I3 isl-againworked tocause the telescopic vpost 2l to extend, raising the-seat back to -itsnstarting pointyandfrom which the `occupant Ican readilyy leave the bathtub.

As the .handle523 and rod-26 are disposed to one sideA ofthe device, fand.- laterallyY of Athe seat 28,

-such handle and rod can be easily reached. and

. remainder ofthe structure by retracting the cross slide I'I and thence sliding-the plate I4 forwardly until it escapes theguide channels I5.

From the foregoing. description it will be readily `seen that therehas been produced' such a device yas substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as seti' forth herein.

while this specification setsfor'th in detail the present and` preferred' 'construction'ofthedevice,

.-:still' inl' practice fsuchfdeviationsi Aform fsuch detail `up'stand'ing from the supporting structure, the jackY includingpperating means arranged to raise the same and control its lowering, and a seat Yrmountedcn thelupper end of the jack.

2. Abathtub seat unit, as in claim l, in which the vhanger is vertically adjustable.

3. A bathtub seat unit, comprising a base plate adapted tores't on the bottom ofa'ba'thtub'spaced "hangers upstanding from `one side lof thel'fbase plate," said hangers being verticallyladjustablefand V'having upper end hooks for 'engagementover-the vrim of' the bathtub on one side,1a*"-hy`dralic'jack upstanding from the base plate, saidijackfiny'cluding a supporting plate 'resting ontheffbase Iplate, a' telescopic post, a -pump handlehand a valve release member; means securing-the'suplporting 1plate on the 'ibase plate, and 1a-^seat -rnounted `onthe upper end of the telescopicpo'st 4.- A bathtub seat unit, comprisinga baseiplate adapted to rest on the bottom of abathtb',spaced hangers upstanding from one side rof the-'ibase 'plate,vsaid hangers being vertically fadjusta'ble `and having upper endhooks forengagement'over f the rim'of the bathtub on onesidera hydraulic jack upstanding from the' base' plate, said 1 ack including a supporting plate resting onvtheba-se lel channels on the base'plate .openingtoward "eachother, the supporting plate restingf'fonithe 'base' plate and .slidably engaged" at opposite edge llporti'ons in said channels,- releasablemeans'lpreventing escape'of the supporting'` platelfromthe channels, and a seat mountedonltheupperiend 50 :mountedon the base plate for sliding `between a .plate,'1an'd' a position'clear thereof; 'therecbelng a stop beyond the other endofv-said ysupporting .plate. Y i

position in front of one endf'fof the supporting '6.z'A1bathtub seat unit 'comprising-.a supporting base unit adapted'lto be supportedfon'theebottom pira-"bathtub, a jack 'mOun-tedn" the ibase Lunit 4and disposed entirely abovethe same whereby the base unit may restlatlyffoversubstantially-.its `entire `area'on the bottom of the tubfa'seatiabove the base unit, lmeans vbetween the1seatandjack to raise and lower the'seat upon'operation fwthe jack, and meanson the' baseunit -to;'releasably engage the rim of the bathtub tomaintain the ibase unit in place in the bathtub.

References Cited in thef-lefof tl'ilszpatent` UNITED STATES P''IENTS Number Name 'Bate'.`

797,451 Mcnryde Aug.15, r9o5 1,982,245 Feulner Nov."`2l,"1934 2,439,163 Farmer "Apr."-6,`11948 2 377,050 `:Van Buren i-Decre,V 1951 2,583,414 chain Jan. 2251952 y22,609,862 :Pratt -Sept. 39,'51952 

